Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 2

the situation.
    Arick. He'd nearly killed Arick. And the bastard had betrayed him, throttling him to unconsciousness. He forced his body to relax again.
    He hurt everywhere, but especially his arm and shoulder. He remembered the fight, the lethal blow he'd nearly landed. He remembered the powerful magic the swords exerted, not allowing death to fall on their masters.
    Damn, he was glad he'd bespelled those blades; the blood magic had saved both their lives.
    Gingerly, he shifted his shoulder; it hurt, but someone had set it while he'd lain unconscious. Automatically, he looked toward the central fire, straining for a glimpse of Arick. He then berated himself. He wallowed in the fury that blossomed in his heart. Once he'd gained control, he looked around as much as he was able, seeing few other prisoners. Down at the camp, men and women moved wearily; signs of injury were everywhere. In the distance, he heard the muffled moans of the wounded. Much closer, he heard the grunting sounds of men fucking, and he curled his lip in distaste.
    He prayed they weren't raping prisoners. He knew little of the Delphine, but the bits he knew frightened him. Travelers spoke of magic and all sorts of twisted behavior. Torture and death in the name of unknown gods. He listened carefully, hearing moans of pain that were muffled by a man's shout of completion.
    A scream rang out close by. He shifted his head, spotting the sole tent in the encampment. It must be the residence of the general. Another scream, and then another, lonely and horrifying in the victim's sheer despair. Dark, unnamable energy crackled through the air, heavy and oppressive as the smoke from a grass fire.
    And then, eventually, silence.
    There were no other tents or shelters; soldiers lay on the ground, wrapped in thick blankets, their heads pillowed by their packs. Small fires dotted the land, and Sai swallowed down a surge of despair. They had enough confidence that they burned fires that could pinpoint their location. What had happened to his people?
    There was a shout, a cry, and someone's punishment commenced; he heard the crack of a whip, the stifled moans of a man.
    Abruptly, he thought of Arick tied to a post, the leather thong between his teeth.
    No. It could not be, and yet somehow he knew it was his treacherous lover. It went on and on, sometimes ceasing for moments, as though they were allowing him respite. But it always began again. But Arick had brought in a captive; he'd be celebrating, not suffering. That knowledge angered Sai, yet he felt easier as well.
    In time, all grew quiet, disturbed only by distant thunder and the flash of lightning on the horizon. Sai lay staring at the sky until the first drops of rain fell on his face, trailing through the tacky mask of blood that coated his skin.
    CHAPTER 7
    The place was going to hell. Lightning and thunder blasted through the sky, shaking the ground and triggering chaos. All around, men were up and running, some to capture horses that had shied; others just ran in fear. Not far away, a tall tree was ablaze, no doubt the victim of the lightning strike. He rolled, curling against the rain that was now slashing down from the sky. Other prisoners did the same, groaning past the gags in their mouths. Sai struggled with his bindings, hoping the water would loosen them somewhat.
    "Don't move."
    A hand came over his mouth, a knife at his throat. Sai struggled to look, but he didn't need to see his captor. He lay perfectly still 'til the blade was removed. In seconds, the bindings around his ankles and knees were gone. He flexed his feet and legs, wincing as the blood rushed back into his limbs. As he lay there, the other captives were also released. He struggled to sit up, glaring at Arick as he urged the others to safety.
    When the traitor turned back to him, Sai gritted his teeth. Past his fury, illogical joy rose in his heart.
    He bit hard on the leather gag in his mouth, rousing his anger again.
    Without comment, Arick hefted Sai to his feet, watching warily as he caught his balance. He made no move to free Sai's hands.
    "Quiet. I'll release you as soon as we're away." He tugged at Sai's arm, urging him upward toward a rocky slope. They staggered and slipped in the mud, nearly blind in the torrential downpour. "I know this place. When the rains come, floodwaters rush down from the mountains. We have only minutes to be away."
    It was Sai who heard the first attacker. Wet footsteps were muffled by the sound of